The South African Arts and Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF) has rejected the Limpopo provincial government’s decision to indefinitely postpone the 2026 Marula Festival, warning of protests if the creative sector continues to be excluded from key decisions.
The decision was taken on Thursday, 5 February, following a high-level briefing involving Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, the executive council and Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, where extensive infrastructure damage was reported. The government said all funds allocated to the festival would be redirected towards reconstructing damaged roads, rehabilitating critical infrastructure and restoring essential municipal services.
However, SAACYF president Romeo Ramuada said the move was taken without consulting artists and affected SMMEs, despite the festival being a critical source of income.
“This festival is not entertainment for us, it is work, it is income and it is survival. Redirecting funds meant to create jobs in the creative sector to cover municipal failures is unacceptable,” Ramuada said.
He added that artists and small businesses should not be forced to carry the cost of governance and planning failures, warning that the sector would mobilise and march to the Premier’s offices if meaningful engagement does not take place.
The provincial government said the Marula Festival remains an important cultural programme and that updates would be communicated as recovery efforts progress.